Tuesday June, 23
After a much-needed late start to our day, we headed out around 10:15 for our next activity. We drove about 1.5 hours to reach Niagara-on-the-Lake. This area is a historic village just minutes from Niagara Falls. It was absolutely gorgeous. The main street was lined with cute shops, restaurants, and even museums. Everything was so green and beautifully landscaped, with flowers blooming everywhere!
Our first stop was The Niagara Apothecary, an old pharmacy that has since been converted into a small museum. While it was only one room, it was packed full of neat artifacts and medicines. There was also documentation from when Queen Elizabeth visited and signed the registry. Pretty cool!
We made our way down the street, stopping in some of the cute shops. I stopped in an old-time candy store (Old Tyme Candy Shop), souvenir shops, a body care shop (One Earth), and a couple of boutiques. The cute doorways definitely encourage you to stop in!
Not long after, it was time for lunch. We went to a place called Gyros on the Lake for some Mediterranean cuisine. The food was really good, and the place itself had a great atmosphere.
After that, it was time for an afternoon treat, so I went to a French-inspired café while my dad and Anna went for ice cream and my mom continued shopping.
We continued walking along the street, stopping in shops along the way. My mom, Anna, and I stopped at the post office to mail some postcards all the way from Ontario, Canada.
After that, it was time to make our way back to the car and get moving. Along the way stopped at a few more stores and bakery called Budapest Bakeshop. They’re specialty is in making chimney cakes, which are a Hungarian pastry made by wrapping sweet yeast dough around a spit and baking it over hot coals until crispy and caramelized. You could pick sweet or savory flavors that had various coatings. We got the cinamon, sprinkle, and bacon cheddar ones. They were delicious!
There was about a 30-minute drive to Niagara Falls, with some beautiful overlooks along the way.
About 15 minutes in, we turned a corner and Anna said, “Look guys, you can fly a helicopter over Niagara Falls!” Well, one thing led to another… and somehow we were walking out on the tarmac to board a helicopter. Expect the unexpected, I guess!
We lifted off and began our flight to the falls. The helicopter seemed super modern, with AC, an audio tour, and digital control panels. Anna and I sat in the front, and my parents sat in the back.
It was SO FUN! We shot up into the air and pivoted around, heading toward the main attraction. Once we were over the actual falls, our pilot made two circles around them so everyone could get a view from both sides. The views of Niagara Falls, the Niagara River, and Horseshoe Falls were unparalleled. It was a perfectly clear day, so you could see the beautiful landscape for miles and miles. As we approached the falls, we could see white rapids rushing through the turquoise waters and funneling into the biggest waterfall I’ve ever seen.
He looped back and headed toward the hangar for our descent. It’s safe to say we were on cloud nine the entire time… well, maybe not my mom, but she liked it too.
Top three coolest things I’ve ever done. Maybe number one. I definitely didn’t expect to ride in a helicopter when I woke up this morning, but it was a pretty epic way to experience my first helicopter ride.
We headed to view the falls from up close in the Niagara Falls area—our original plan. Since parking cost $40, my dad just dropped us off so we could view the falls and take some pictures. It was crazy to see up close just how much water spills over the edge, creating a roaring sound, mist, and even rainbows. God’s creation truly is amazing.
On the way out, we caught a glimpse of the Niagara Falls downtown area. It was like a Canadian Gatlinburg. I thought this was bad, so I can’t even imagine the American side. Everything screamed tourist trap and was so crowded. I’m so glad we chose Niagara-on-the-Lake for a slower pace and local heritage.
Our time in Canada has been amazing. Choosing some places off the beaten path let us truly get a taste of the beauty this country offers. The villages, vineyards, and vast countryside make me want to visit again. Anna would probably live here if she could. I don’t love it quite that much.
We crossed the border and drove to Painted Post, New York, for our first Airbnb stay of the trip. The drive was beautiful as we passed farms and mountainous areas. I sure didn’t expect our drives to be this beautiful when we planned this trip.
Once we got to our Airbnb, we unloaded our bags, and then Anna and I went on a sunset adventure in Corning, New York, the town right next to where we were staying. It’s a small town known for the Corning Museum of Glass.
There’s a beautiful pedestrian bridge where we walked to catch the end of the sunset. The perfect ending to a beyond-perfect day! As the colors faded, we listened to the birds chirp and watched ducks swim across the river. It was beautiful.
Afterward, we decided to walk and grab a bite to eat at Aniello’s Pizza. It’s a family-owned New York-style pizza joint in the heart of Corning. The two slices of cheese pizza and garlic knots we ordered were fresh and had great flavor.
It was time to head home for showers, rest, and some blogging before bed.
What a day it’s been. From a helicopter ride to a sunset, we’ve had quite the adventure!
Until tomorrow.
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